Material handling mechanism



MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Wwf/31M May 16, 1933.

J. H. sANGERs 1,909,379

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 9.- 1931 I 3 sheets-sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. H. SANGERS MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI'SM Filed June 9, 1931 xml MNR

May 1 6, 1933.

material tower and Patented May 1e, 1933 urn stares PATENT i OFFICE JOHN H. SANG'ERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE JAEGER MACHINE COM- PANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, CORPORATION 0F OHIO MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Application led June 9,

This invention relates to la material handling mechanism yand particularly to a elevator bucket construction such as is commonly employed Vin construction work for the hoisting or delivering of different materials, like sand, cement, concrete or the liketo various levels of a construction job, althought, of course, tower and bucket constructions of this type are susceptible of advantageous use for other purposes.

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction, in which the bucket may be entirely within the tower during its dumping operation and the removal of any diagonals or girt members from the face of the tower rendered unnecessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction such that the tower may be as strongly constructed in each portion as in every other portion, and particularly as strongly constructed at the dumping point for the bucket as it is at any other point or part of the tower.

An additional object is to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction wherein the bucket performs its dumping operation entirely within the tower.

Another additional object is to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction wherein the bucket may be drawn through or past the dumping point in dumped position without damage to the bucket or to the tower, will maintain its dumped position when so drawn through,

and will right itself again when lowered back past the dumping point.

Still another additional object is to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction wherein the bucket remains at all times entirely within the tower and is s-:wung to dumping position by a dumping device attached to the tower.

A still further object is to provide a material tower and elevator bucket construction that permits the dumping point of the bucket to be changed quickly and easily.

Another further object is to provide a Serial No. 543,107.

material tower andelevator bucket construe* tion wherein is employed a dumping `attachment for the bucket which may be readily .and quickly removed from one pol sition to another on the tower.

Further and additional objects not spe ciicallyen-umerated above will become apparent hereinafter.V

lnV the accompanying Vdrawings illustrat- Y ing a practical embodiment of the invention L Figure l is a side elevational view of a material tower and elevator bucket construction, the bucket being shown in full lines at the'base of the tower and in dotted lines r Fig. 3 is a' fragmentary side elevation of u the towers sho-wn in either Figs. l or 2 and shows the dumping device or attachment in position on the towers.

Fig. t is a fragmentary front elevation of the towers shown in either Figs. l vor 2 and shows the dumping device in position with the chute thereof extending outwardly of the towers.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the dumping attachment and is taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hoist cage and bucket, the platform and side struts of the cage being omitted.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational View of the lower part of the tower showing the tilting chute for loading the elevator bucket.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the tower with certain portions thereof broken away to show the bucket; the platform and side Struts of the hoist cage being indicated in dotted lines; and

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational View of the hoist cage and elevator bucket, the platform of the cage being shown in dotted lines.

Heretofore material towers of the same generaly type as the tower disclosed herein have had employed therewith elevator buckets of the inside cage type, that is elevator buckets that are located within the tower and are carried by hoist cages travelling on guideways extending vertically of the tower. rlhese buckets when moved to dumping position have extended through the front tace of the Ytower in 'such manner as te necessitate the removal of a number oi" diagonale and girt members from the tower at the dumping point, thus weakening tho tower structure at the point where it should be the strongest. Also the removal oi" the diagonals and girt members from the tower greatly increases the labor and time incident to changing on the tower the dumping point of the bucket.`

The present invention contemplates a tower and elevator bucket construction wherein he bucket dumps entirely within the tower thereby rendering unnecessary the removal of any ol' the girt members or diagonale of the tower at the dumping point, with the result that the tower is of uniform strength throughout and particularly is it as strong at the dumping point at any other point.

The dumping point oi the bucket on the towerY may be quickly and easily shifted in the construction contemplated by the present invention since no diagonals or girt members need be removed or replaced, it simply being necessary to change the position on the tower oi' a dumping attachment that can be shifted with a minimum amount oi' labor and time.

fin the towers previously used and in which the buckets when in dumping posi tion extend through the `liront face of the tower there is the disadvantage and danger that the operator may allow the bucket to be moved past the dumping point when in dumping position, with the result that both the tower and the bucket will be damaged since the bucket extends through the front tace of the tower.

In the tower and bucket construction disclosed herein this danger is obviatcd since the bucket, dumping entirely within the tower, may be drawn through or past the dumping point in dumped position without danger to it or to the tower, will maintain its dumped position when so drawn through, and will right itselt airain when lowered back past the dumping point.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the tower construction, in so tar as the same is more or less conventional, vill be briefly described herein. rl`he tower is built up of sections and the bottom section thereof includes a base formed of l-beams 10 upon which are bolted or otherwise secured the steel tube sleeves or splices 11 for receiving the lirst tower columns 12, it being understood that any intermediate section of the tower can be attached to the base section.

At each side and at the front and rear of the bottom section girt members 13 are connec'ted at their ends to the sleeves il, the two sides and the front of the bottom section also having diagonals 1l secured te the sleeves 11 at one of their ends and extending diagonally across and upwardly of the section with their other end secured to similar sleeves or splices l1 arranged on the columns 12 at the upper end of the bottom section. Girt members 13 are secured to the sleeves 11 at the upper end of the section on both sides and the rear and lront of the tower.

The rear of the bottom section of the tower is not provided with the diagonals 14 referred to above sinceit is desired to secure a tilting chute 15 to the tower at this point. A pair of'spaced parallel angle bars 15 are secured at their opposite ends to the upper and lower girt members 13 at the rear of the bottom section of the tower, the bars 16 extending vertically and disposed to face oppositely with respect to each other. A member 17, similar to a girt member 13 has its opposite ends secured to brackets 18 clamped to the rear columns 12 between the upper and. lower girt members 13 of the rear of the bottom section. A member 14a, similar to the diagonale 14, has its opposite ends secured to a sleeve 11 on the base and to one et the brackets 18 so as to extend diagonally across the rear ot the tower between the lowermost girt' member 13 and the member 17.

intermediate the member 17 and the gii't member 13 lat the upper end of the rear of the bottom section, the angle bars 16 have secured to their adjacent faces and in horizontal alignment on the bars plates 19 which support a rod 20 extending transversely therebetween. The chute 15 is pivotally mounted on the rod 20 by means of angle brackets 21 secured to the underside of the chute with the rod 20 passing through aligned openings formed in the free arms thereof. rlhe chute 15 is of such length that, when it is in the position shown in full lines in 1 and 8, it will extend inwardly and downwardly into the tower and its inner end overlie the bucket later to be described, it being noted that the point of the pivotal mounting ot the chute is such that it will remain in this tilted position until positively moved therefrom, The sides of the chute 15 are provided with angle brackets 22 arranged to engage the angle bars 16 to limit tilting movement oi the chute in one direction, while the angle brackets 21 carry stops 23 to engage the plates 19 and limit tilting` movement ot' the chute in the opposite direction (the dotted line position of Fig. 8).

The bottom section of the tower may also be provided at one side with a bottom swivel sheave bracket 241 bolted as indicated at 25 (Fig. 7) to the corner columns 12 of the tower; the bracket 24 shown herein having five possible settings for the bottom swivel sheaths (see Figs. l and 2). Of course, a bottom swivel sheath could be directly clamped to the columns 12 without using the bracket; however, this part of the tower construction-is not essential to an understanding ofthe present invention and is not a part thereof.

As .previously stated herein, the tower is built up of sections, since it is preferable to do'so in order to increase the height of the tower from time to time as the work progresses with which it is used. ri"hereiore, the sections of the tower intermediate the bottom and top section thereof are all constructed in the same manner so that these intermediate sections can be added to the tower as desired. A description of one the intermediate sections and the manner in which it is attac-hed to its adjacent section will suiiice for .all and hence that section immediately above the bottom section will be the only intermediate section described herein.

The sleeves or tubular splices 11 at the upper ends of the columns 12 of the bottom section receive the lower ends of the vertici i columns 12 of the next section above, similar sleeves or splices 11 being arranged at the upper ends of the last mentioned coiumns 12 to receive the columns of the next section, and so on-up the rtower to the top section. The sleeves orl splices 11 are cennected to each other by the horizontal gi .f rmembers 13, Vwhile the sleeves 11 at the diagonally opposite corners et the iront7 rear and both sides of each section are connected together by the diagonals 14. Preferably the ends of the girt members 13 and diagonals 14, are liattened with an end of a girt member and of two diagonals secured to a sleeve 11 by a common securing bolt 26. This construction is well known and understood in the art and per se forms no part of the present invention.

The top section of the tower (the section that supports the sheaves for the cag`l` l iff-f line) may be-attached to the last int nediate section of the tower (see Figs. 1 and 2), or it may be assembled in the structure at an intermediate position (see Figs. 3 and 4), the tower placed in operation and the balance of the assembly work go on above with the tower in operation below. Brietly the top section, whether actually at the top of the tower or at an intermediate position thereon, comprises double supporting channels 27 secured to the columns 12, these channels being located at the sides of the tower and arranged back to back with the columns 12 passing between them (see F`0 4). Efrtending across the tower fi. m f to si thereof and secured to and supported by .the channels 27 there are channels 23 which support the sheaves 29 for the cage hoist line, the channels 28 being spaced apart yand arranged back to back as clearlyshown in Figs. l and3.

V The guides 30 for the hoist' cage extend vertically of the tower at the center of. each side thereof and are secured to the girt members 13, preferably by means of spacer blocks v31. f

. The hoist cage is best illustrated in Figs.

thereof. An I-beam A34 extends between the plates 33 being connected thereto by angle brackets 35 havin@ one arm secured to the pla-tes 33 and the other arm to the web portion of the beam 34. The upper ends of Y the angle bars 32 of each pair are connected together by tie plates 36 having an inwardly projecting gusset plate 37 extending between and secured to a pair of oppositely facing channels 38 arranged back to back and extending across the top of the'cage. The channels 38 have an anchor plate 39 secured thereto midway of their ends and to which the cage hoist line is attached while on each side of the anchor plate 39 there is secured a pair of brackets 4() to which the chains 4l are connected, these chains being also connected to the elevator hoist bucket for a purpose later to be explained. The angle bars 32 of each pair are connected together intermediate their ends substantially triangular tie plates 42 the lower corners of which extend laterally beyond the bars 32.

The cage hoist can be used either without a platform (seeFig. 6) when elimination of dead weight for highA speed hoisting is desirable or where hoist power is limited orit can be used with a platform when required as illustrated in Fig. 8 where the platform is shown indotted lines. rFhe platform comprises outwardly facing channels 43 arranged at the front and rear of the cage with their ends connected together by plates 44, the channels 43 and plates 44 supporting the platform proper 45. The plates 44 have vertically extending plates 46 secured thereto and to the portions of the plates 33 that extend below the angle bars 32. The kplates 44A also have plates y47 secured thereto adjacent their opposite ends, the strut members 43 being secured to-these plates and to the lower corners of the tie plates 42.l The elevator bucket nonr about to be described may be used with the cage hoist either with or without the platform attache( thereto.

The elevator' bucket is illustrated most clearly in F 6, 8 and 9 and reference should be had thereto during the description immediately to follow. rilhe bucket may be said to be substantially trough-like in shape and narrows in width (as measured from the front to back) from the top of the bucket to the bottom. The rear wall of the bucket is indicated at 19, the side walls at 50, the front wall at 51, and the bottom wall at 52. The upper edge of the bucket is reinforced by angle bars 53, while gusset plates 54 connect the upper corners of the side walls 5()Y and rear wall 49. Suitable deflector plates 55 are secured to the inner surfaces of the front and side walls of the bucket and serve to form a constricted pouring or dumping neck for the bucket so that the material dumped therefrom will be properly guided into a chute later to be described.. The side walls 50 of the bucket extend outwardly beyond the front wall 51 to form sub stantially triangular extensions 5()a having at their upper ends reentrant slots 56. The slots 56 extend substantially parallel with the inclined front wall 51 of the bucket, it being noted, however, that the lower side of the slots is angularly disposed with respect to the upper side 'thereof so that the slots are liared or enlarged toward their outer ends. 1n ord r to strengthen the extensions 50ZL adjacent to the slots 56 a substantially U-shaped angle bar 57 is secured to the extensions at the edge of each slot, these angle bars 57 also providing a bearing surface for a portion of the dumping attachment, later to be described, which engages in the slots.

Plates 58 are secured to the side walls 50 of the bucket and each have a downwardly extending portion 58 that extends between the spaced vertically disposed arms of a pair of angle brackets 59 secured to the upper side of the i-beam 3a of the cage hoist. A pivot pin 60 extends through each pair of angle brackets 59 and its cooperating portion 58il of the plate 58 and provides a pivotal mounting for the bucket, it being noted that the location of the pivot is such that the bucket is always balanced backward either loaded or empty.

lVhen the cage hoist with the bucket arranged thereon is in position in the tower, it will be seen that the front end of the bucket and the extensions 50LnL of the side walls thereof are located well rearwardly of the front of the tower and the reason for this arrangement will soon be pointed out. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and S it vill be noted that when the cage hoist and bucket are at the bottom of the tower the tilting chute 15 will extend into the tower and overlie the bucket, so that the latter may be filled by material poured or shoveled into the chute.

As soon as the cage hoist moves upwardly ables these ends to be accomplished will now y be described.

At the desired dumping point on the tower plates 61 are arranged at each side of but adjacent the front of the tower and at the connecting point of two of the tower sections. rlfhese plates 61 extend vertically of tie tower and inside of the same; a pair of clamps 62 connecting the front edge of the plates to the front columns 12 of the tower, while angle brackets 63 secured to the plates (il and having slots therein adapted to engage over the adjacent girt members 13 support and steady the rear end of the plates Gl.

A rod 64 extends between vthe plates 61 being supported at its opposite ends by the plates adjarent their rear edges and at a point located between the included angle of the adjacent girt member 13 and diagonal 14. The rod 64- may be removably clamped in position in the plates G1 by means of removable members 65 to facilitate the assemblingl of the plates and rod on the tower or the removal thereof.

A chute 6G is connected to the rod 611 (see Figs. 3, l and 5) by means of a strap 67 arranged on the rod and secured to the under side of the chute adjacent its rear edge, it being noted that the chute 66 is of such width that there is a substantial space between the side edges of the chute and tie plates 61, as clearly saown in Fig. f1. The chute 66 extends forwardly and downwardly from the rod Get outwardly beyond the front .face of the tower, overlying the girt member' 13 at the front of the tower and passing between the adjacent front diagonals 141A, the side walls 68 of the chute being cut away as indicated at 69 to accommodate the diagonals 14. The chute 66 is slightly wider at its inner end than at its outer ond, the inner end of the chute G6 being of a width, however, such that when the bucket is in dumping position the detlector plates 55 will direct the material from the bucket into the chute 56.

The bucket being filled with material the operator sets the hoist mechanism into operation to elevate the bucket and hoist cage in the tower. As the bucket rises in tne tower the slots 56 in the extensions 50EL pass over the portions of the rod 64: lying between the chute 66 and the plates 61. The rod 64 as it passes into the slots 56 engages the bottom wall of the slots and continued upward movement of the bucket results in the latter being swung about its pivot to the dumping position (see the dotted line position of the bucket in Figs. l and 2) whereupon the contents of the bucket are poured into the chute 66. The chain 4l fastened to the rear edge of the bucket and to the hoist cage limits the movement of the bucket to dumping position.

It will beV seen that should the operator allow the hoisting mechanism to draw the Vbucket past the dumping position that no damage would be done to the bucket or tower, the continued upward movement ot the bucket merely withdrawing the rod 64 from the slots 56, whiclnbeing carried by the extensions L lie forwardly ofthe front of the bucket.

When the bucket is lowered after dumping the rod 64C engages the upper wall of i the slots 56 and swings the bucket backwardly from the dumping position until the center' of gravity of the bucket shifts to the other side of the pivot, whereupon the bucket is brought to load receiving position by gravity, it being remembered that the location of the pivot is such that the bucket is always balanced backwardly either loaded or empty, as previously explained. The chain ll also limits the movement of the 'i bucket in this direction, as will be readily understood.

It will be seen that the dumping attachment may be quickly and easily shifted from one position on the tower to another, since the plates 6l are connected to the tower by just two clamps while the rod 64- is detachably supported in the plates. Furthermore, there will be no necessity to remove any diagonale or girt members of the tower construction in changing the position of the dumping attachment since the chute 66 extends between these members.

In order to increase its ei'liciency the tower may be provided with sliding frames thereby greatly increasing the speed with which changes in the pouring or dumping point can be made. ln Fig. l a sliding frame of the short type is illustrated, that is a frame for supporting only a hopper, while inv Fig. 2 a sliding frame of the longitudinal'type is shown, such frames supporting a chute unit such as a boom chute plant.

Guides 70 are secured to the front columns l2 of the tower for supporting sliding frames of either type. rlhese frames are bolted in position upon the guides 70 but upon being unbolted may be shifted to a different position by hoist power, a sheave 7l being arranged at the top 'of the tower for the sliding frame hoist line. In both forms of sliding nframes la hopper 72 is secured to the frames, thev long type of sliding frame, however, being provided withv a bottom extension bracket 73 for the chute seat under the hopper and with an upper xtension bracket 7i for the tie back line 7 5 from the irst section of the chute unit. As shown in Fig. 2 the sliding frame supports a trussed chute 76 connecting at its outer end with a chute 77.

The' specitic construction of the sliding frames is not per se a part of the present invention. and has been described only briefly for that reason, it being understood that the sliding frames were illustrated and referred to herein for the purpose of making the utility of the present invention clearer.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention I clailn:

l. n combination with a material tower having vertical columns, horizontal girts, and diagonals on the front of the tower, a dumping attachment comprising supporting means arranged within the tower at the opposite sides but adjacent the front thereof, a member supported by said means and extending substantially from one side of the tower to the other side and within the same, and a chute of less width than the length of said member connected thereto and extendling between the diagonals and beyond the front of the tower.

2. In combination with a material tower having interconnected vertical columns, horizontal girts, and diagonals on its front, two sides and rear, a dumping attachment comprising plates arranged within the tower adjacent the sides thereof and secured to the vertical columns at the front of the tower, a member supported by said plates adjacent their rear edge and extending across the tower within the same, and a chute of less width than the length of said member connected thereto and extending beyond the front of the tower between the adjacent colmnns, girt member, and diagonals. Y

3. In combination with a material tower, a tiltable bucket within said tower and adapted to be raised and lowered therein, and a dumping device secured to said tower within the same, said bucket having its side walls'forwardly extended and provided with downwardly inclined slots, said dumping device having a member extending substantially from side to side of the tower within the same and a chute connected to said member intermediate the ends of said member and having a portion of such width as to extend between the structural elements of Leoesve the tower and forwardly beyond the front thereof the slots in the extended side walls of said bucket engaging said member on opposite sides of said chute during movement 5 of the bucket in the tower to tilt the bucket. In testimony whereof7 I hereunto afx my signature.

JOHN H. SANGERS. 

